Preservation of the aroma of tobacco and tobacco goods



Patented Aug. 1, 1933 UNITED STATES- PRESERVATION OF THE AROMA F Werkhof Gesellsohaft Haftung, Bremen, Germany mit besehrankter No Drawing. Application November 2, 1929, Serial No. 404,515, and in Germany November 1 Claim.

It is a known fact, that the aroma. of tobacco and tobacco goods easily volatilizes when the said goods are stord'in closed containers, whereas the tobacco retains its aroma as long as it remains exposedto the climatic influences of its place of origin and, particularly, to the influence of the sun.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel wrapping material and a process for its production, the material being efiective to preserve the aroma of worked up or unworked tobacco during transit and also during storage. It has been ascertained, that the development of the aroma in the tobacco depends upon the effect of the light and especially of those rays of the light, which are chemically active. For this reason it is of importance in the present invention to maintain this efiect of light to further develop the aroma even when the tobacco is being transported or being stored in closed containers or packings in a raw or worked up state. For this purpose and in accordance with the invention the covering, wrapping-or packing materials, and especially those which come in direct contact with the tobacco, such as cases (transport-cases, cigarboxes and the like), cardboard boxes (cigaretteboxes and suchlike), paper (packing paper, linings ior cigar-boxes and cigarette-boxes, cigarette-papers, mouthpieces and the' like) are treated-with photo-dynamically active or light accumulating substances, such as ergosterine, and cholesterine. The light accumulating properties of these substances are dealt with in articles by A. Passow and by F. W. Schmidt in Miinchener Medizinische Wochenschrift, 1924, p. 733-737, and"1926, p. 154-155, respectively.

The treatment of the covering or wrapping materials and the like-with these light accumulating substances may be effected in various manners. Preferably, the paper, card-board, wood or the like is impregnated or coated with solutions of the substances mentioned, as for instance, with an alcoholic solution of ergosterine or cholesterine. If desired, however, the light accumulating substances may be added during the manufacture of the wrapping materials.

For the purpose of enhancing the effect sought by-the invention, the wrapping materials treated with or containing light accumulating substances, may subsequently be exposed to the action of special sources of light, for example sources of ultraviolet light. For this purpose, for instance, a quartz lamp for 220 volt alternating current and 3.7 amperes, may be employed, the rays 01' which are directed upon the material for a period of 45 minutes, with a distance of about 13 to 2 meters existing between the material to be treated and the source of light.

A comparative experiment with cigarettes which were enclosed for three weeks in paper provided with light accumulating substances and exposed to the action of ultraviolet rays, and with cigarettes of identical quality and origin enclosed for three weeks in paper not so treated, revealed the fact, that those contained in the treated paper possessed an essentially stronger aroma than those packed in non-treated paper. It has furthermore been proved, that in this way the aroma may be preserved for many months.

The term cellulosic material used in the claim is intended to cover paper, cardboard and wood, exclusively.

Various changes may be made in the details disclosed in the foregoing specification without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claim:

Envelope for tobacco products comprising porous cellulosic material and a sterine distributed in the pores of said material.

' GEORG SENF'IN'ER. 

